Biography
Dr. Rachel Lauren Storm is a community engagement leader, arts administrator, and educator whose work spans nearly two decades at the intersections of social justice, the arts, and education. She currently serves as Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Learning at Krannert Art Museum (KAM) at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, where she leads the museum’s education department and public engagement strategy with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. At KAM, she curates public programs, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that connect exhibitions to the diverse lived experiences and cultures of Central Illinois communities. Her work includes launching and overseeing programs such as Teen Artists’ Retreat, Rest Lab, Night OUT at the Museum, and Creative Aging, while revitalizing long-standing series like SPEAK Café and ArtReach. She serves as affiliate faculty in the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity, where she serves on the Executive Committee, and within the School of Art & Design.
Dr. Storm has worked in educational programming and advocacy for over 15 years, with professional experience in women’s rights and gender equity, youth and community programs, social justice education, and international development. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership with concentrations in Global Studies in Education and Gender Relations in International Development, as well as an M.Ed. in Educational Policy Studies and B.A. in International Studies, all from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.
Previously, Dr. Storm served as Assistant Director of the Women’s Resources Center in the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, where she oversaw campus-wide educational programs and provided counseling, advocacy, and support for survivors of gender-based violence and trauma. She also served as Arts and Culture Coordinator for the City of Urbana, directing the city’s arts grant programs and curating public festivals, exhibitions, and initiatives designed to foster community engagement through the arts.
Her academic and creative work have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Tinker Fellowship for Latin American Field Research, Barbara A. Yates Award, Due and Ferber Award, Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award, and the Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement. A National Women’s Studies Association Emerging Leader (2013), she has taught within the Program on Intergroup Relations and the School of Art & Design, where her courses explore dialogue, development narratives, and global dynamics of power.
Dr. Storm’s research and practice continue to center on restorative and transformative justice, gender-based violence, and the power of art and education to cultivate empathy, belonging, and social change.
Research Interests
restorative and transformative justice, international development, gender-based violence, women's issues, educational policy, arts-based education, violence/trauma, social justice education, grassroots community organizing
Research Description
Dr. Rachel Lauren Storm’s research explores the intersections of gender, justice, and global education, examining how art, dialogue, and community-based learning can advance social transformation. Grounded in feminist theory, critical pedagogy, and global studies, her work investigates the impacts of international development on women’s organizing, the role of cultural institutions in fostering equity, and the transformative potential of creative and dialogic practices. Her scholarship and practice emphasize restorative and transformative justice, gender-based violence prevention, and arts-based education as tools for empathy, belonging, and collective healing. Drawing from over 15 years of leadership in higher education, municipal arts programs, and community engagement, Dr. Storm’s research bridges global feminist inquiry with local cultural practice—advancing models of education and engagement that are participatory, trauma-informed, and justice-centered.
Awards and Honors
2021 Diversity and Social Justice Outstanding Alumni Award
2018 Awardee, Sheroes of Champaign County Women’s Awards
2018 Humanitarian Award, Mom’s Association at the University of Illinois
2018 Best Presentation Award, 9th Annual Graduate Conference in Education, University of Illinois
2017 Graduate Student Award, Honorable Mention, Graduate College at the University of Illinois
2017 Nominee, ACE (Art, Culture, and Education) Awards, 40 North Champaign County Arts Council
2017 Diversity and Social Justice Outstanding Staff Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-
2015 Strategic Initiatives Grant Recipient, Feminist Activist Academy & Domestic Violence Training
2015 Focal Point Grant, “Women’s Empowerment and International Development,” The Graduate College
2015 Teacher Scholar Certificate, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
2015 Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement (CAEPE)
2015 Urbana Public Arts Commission, Arts Grants Recipient, Creative Mix, Here and Now
2014 Strategic Initiatives Grant Recipient, Feminist Activist Academy
2014 Urbana Public Arts Commission, Arts Grant Recipient Envision 365
2013 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
2013 Emerging Leader in Women’s Centers, National Women’s Studies Association
2013 Emerging Leader, YWCA Annual Women’s Awards
2013 Urbana Public Arts Commission, Arts Grant Recipient Envision 365
2013 Strategic Initiatives Grant Recipient, Campus Body Image Initiative
2012 Mix IT Up Youth Advocacy Librarianship Grant, Gender Barred Symposium
2012 Gender and Women’s Studies Outstanding Student Award
2012 Due and Ferber Award for International Field Research
2012 Goodman Fellowship, Women and Gender in Global Perspectives
2012 Keynote Speaker/Honoree, Soroptimist International Midwest Conference
2011 Barbara A. Yates Award for International Field Research
2011 Tinker Fellowship for Latin American Field Research
2011 Virginia M. Wagner Award, Soroptimist International Bloomington-Normal
2009 Global Engagement Summit Delegate, Northwestern University
Courses Taught
Instructor, Program on Intergroup Relations — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EPSY 203: Race, Ethnicity, and Power (2015–Present)
Facilitates intergroup dialogue courses exploring race, identity, and systemic power through experiential learning and critical reflection.
Instructor, Program on Intergroup Relations — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EPSY 203: U.S./International Dialogue (2009–2015)
Co-taught dialogue courses examining global inequities, development narratives, and cross-cultural power dynamics between U.S. and international students.
Instructor, Gender & Women’s Studies — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
GWS 150: Contemporary Issues in Women’s Studies (2013–2014)
Taught feminist theory and practice through intersectional and global frameworks, emphasizing social movements, embodiment, and media.
Instructor, Our Whole Lives Comprehensive Sex Education (Grades 7–10)
Certified sexuality educator facilitating evidence-based, inclusive curricula on consent, relationships, and wellness for youth.
Instructor, Creative Writing: Poetry — Champaign County Jail / Books to Prisoners Education Program
Designed and led trauma-informed creative writing workshops centering storytelling, reflection, and empowerment among incarcerated adults
Delivered invited lectures, workshops, and trainings across disciplines including education, arts, and social justice, such as:
- SW 550: Women’s Issues
- GLBST 199: Global Studies—Intercultural Horizons
- PSYCH 239: Clinical Community Psychology
- GLBL 100: Introduction to Global Studies
- ANTH 262 / ANTH 262H: Women’s Lives (Honors)
- GWS 100: Introduction to Gender & Women’s Studies
- CH 199B: First-Year Campus Acquaintance Rape Education
- ARTS 299: (Re)Making Matter(s)
- FAA 230 / ARTS 499: Cultural Engagement & Tourism — guest lectures on museum-community partnerships, creative placemaking, and cultural tourism (2022–2025)
- GWS Gender Studies — University Laboratory High School
- TAG: Teen Awareness Group — Parapro Training and Curriculum Development
Additional Campus Affiliations
Service & Leadership
President, Champaign County Museum Network | 2024–Present
Provide regional leadership for a consortium of cultural institutions collaborating to expand access, equity, and visibility for museums across Champaign County. Oversee strategic planning, shared initiatives, and advocacy efforts that strengthen community engagement and cultural tourism.
Executive Committee Member, Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2024–Present
Contribute to the Center’s governance and strategic direction, supporting interdisciplinary scholarship and programs advancing gender equity locally and globally.
Board Member, Visit Champaign County / Experience Champaign-Urbana Tourism Bureau | 2020–Present
Advise on cultural tourism, heritage programming, and partnerships between arts organizations and regional tourism agencies.
Chair (Past), Board of Directors, Urbana Business Association | 2021–2023
Led organizational strategy and programming to support local businesses, creative placemaking, and economic development initiatives in downtown Urbana.
Board Member (Past) — Education Justice Project, Channing Murray Foundation, IDEA Store, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
Provided strategic guidance and program support to local and university-affiliated organizations committed to arts access, education, and social justice.
Planning Committees — Boneyard Arts Festival, Friday Forum Series, SMART Girls Conference, Racial Justice Training Task Force
Collaborated on the design and facilitation of public programs and professional development initiatives centering inclusion, restorative practice, and social change.
University Service
Planning Committee, Racial Justice Training Task Force
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Student Affairs | 2015–Present
Awards Committee, Student Affairs Leadership Awards
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Student Affairs | 2014–Present
Student Affairs–Student Parent Advisory Committee
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR), Student Affairs | 2010–Present
Planning Committee, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OIIR, Student Affairs | 2011–Present
Planning Committee, Sexual Assault Awareness Month Programming
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OIIR, Student Affairs | 2009–Present
Chair, Planning Committee, Domestic Violence Awareness Month Programming
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OIIR, Student Affairs | 2009–Present
Coach, Leadership Certificate Program, The Leadership Center®
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Student Affairs | 2010–2015
Additional Committees & Conferences:
Friday Forum Series (2013–2015), 20th Anniversary of the LGBT Resource Center (2013), NASPA Men and Masculinities Conference (2012), SMART Girls Conference (2011), Women’s Career Conference (2009–2012), Recruitment and Civic Engagement Committee (2009–2012)
Research Experience
Focal Point, Women’s Empowerment & International Development
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2015–2016
Focal Point, The Nongovernmental Impulse
The Graduate College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2011–2012
International Field Research, Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador | 2008; 2011
Manuscript Editing, The Gift of Freedom: War, Debt, and Other Refugee Passages — Dr. Mimi Thi Nguyen